El Centro fishing

[JAYNC]

Is there anywhere near El Centro to fish for cats, I am out here doing some training and get bored. Thanks

[Ecfool]

Actually sure is send me a Pm and I will let you know of a few good spots or if you want maybe we could hook up and head out for a night of fishing localy in the El centro/ Calexico area. I am going to be busy this weekend as our local dirt track starts our winter season of races and being Head Tech Inspector I have to be there. The fishing locally around El Centro is fairly good for channel cats, for flat heads I head towards Imperial Dam area.

[JAYNC]

I am right here on the navy base, we normally have been having one night a week off so I could probably go this upcoming saturday night. If you arent able to make it, I would appreciate the tips on the places to go, and how far are they away. Thanks for your help. Jason

[Ecfool]

This saturday I am working at he race track in Imperial. But here are a few palces that pan out fairly well and not to far from base. try fishing the Central Main Canal from Cole road (Take Hwy 111 south to the Wal-Mart turn left)fish from Cole road south the the All American. Another decent strech is the West Side Main from Huff Road to Evans Hewes Hwy.
Another place to try that is decent at times is the Fig Lagoone it is right behind the Broken Spoke Golf Course.
By the way do you have any contact with the fire fighters at the NAF fire dept? If so contact Gerard there, he is My son he can give you some directions as well.

[Whistler]

My dad and I used to fish the Cole road area a lot even before there was a walmart there. Pretty good for channel cats in that area as I recall. If you continue down Hiway 98 toward Yuma you'll eventually cross the Alamo river and the next small canal you'll cross will be the West Alamo canal. We used to catch our limit under that bridge of 3 to 5 lb channel cats. Liver, crawdads and minnows worked great there. Lot's of memories down in that part of the country for me. Haven't been down there since 1992. Jason you're in a great catfishing area.

[JAYNC]

cool, maybe I will go to break up this boredom from being stuck on base. Thanks for all the help. Jason

[Big Country01]

back when i was a kid (and i mean a kid) we use to tear up at a place called weis lake i don't knoww the exact location but it's in the area. also try the canals we always did good on them to.another place was the all american canal we caught some bigguns there.....good luck...john

[dhines]

my wife is from mexicali, and although we live in los angeles, we just bought a second house in calexico (rancho frontera off cole road, to be exact). i have been catfishin' all summer on the canal that is behind the walmart and i am loving it. can't say that i have caught a ton of fish, but i attribute that to mostly being a trout fisherman prior to getting a place down south.

would love to hear if anyone has some advise. I am going to try south of cole road on west main and the canal close to the alamo river. anyone have advice where i can catch gills for bait?

many thanks in advance

[plumbertom1]

Welcome to the BOC, Douglas.
The only advice I can give you is to keep at it and try new spots until you figure them out.
Don't over look the All American Canal or the Cochella Canal that runs off it.
There are some good sized Flatheads in the AAC and stripers also.

[Flatheadhunter33]

Welcome to the BOC Douglas. I hope that you and Jason are able to make it happen over there. While I am familiar with the base over there, I have not ever tried to fish in that area. Good luck.

[woodchucker]

The drops are good spots to fish on the aa.When I fished there last bluegills where hard to come by.However Im sure there are some in wiest lake and or the finney ramer complex.I had much better luck finding tilapia in the canals further north around mecca near the fish farms that dump into the salton sea.You just have to find the right canal,theres a ton.The Alamo has big flatheads too.You can also use goldfish if you can find a place that sells them,there was a hardware store in calipatria that had them.Good luck.

[janzaldo]

Hi Bill, how many pounds did your flathead weigh? Where did ya catch it and what type of bait did ya use?
P.S Welcome to the BOC Doug!

Jaime

[dhines]

some questions for you guys . . .

if i was to buy tilapia (from the grocery store) and use it as cut bait, is that legal in west main and AAC? i have read the regulations and it says tilapia is illegal, but aren't they just referring to wild fish?

i have heard about the hardware store that sells shiners and goldfish (zendejas), i plan on stopping by this weekend. what are better for catching cats?

heading up towards the salton sea for tilapia makes sense . . . are they edible or are they in the drainage canals?

btw, where exatcly are the fish farms?

coming south on the 86 there is some kind of a pond/retention pond inbetween the 86 and the salton sea. it looks like only half of it is fenced off . . . anyone know what is in there? is it legal to fish? is the water filled by irrigation or drainage canals?


flatheadhunter --

i am game to go after some bass. my thinking is, with the two pole license i can use one pole for cats and the other for bass. seems to me cats and bass frequent the same waters, so what the heck.

when i was fishing by one of the bridges near herber i saw a guy using buzz baits and pulling in some large mouth. as i am not familar with buzz baits, what else can i use to go after the bass? i was thinking using some plastics texas rigged, but would appreciate the input on what is most effective.

btw, many thanks for the warm welcome and responses.

[plumbertom1]

some questions for you guys . . .

if i was to buy tilapia (from the grocery store) and use it as cut bait, is that legal in west main and AAC? i have read the regulations and it says tilapia is illegal, but aren't they just referring to wild fish?

This refers to live bait. Cut bait should be fine but you would do better to catch carp and use fresh cut carp for bait. flat heads in particular prefer it.

i have heard about the hardware store that sells shiners and goldfish (zendejas), i plan on stopping by this weekend. what are better for catching cats?

Either one will work but keep in mind that gold fish are hardier and will tolerate low oxygen water better, they are easier to keep alive.

heading up towards the salton sea for tilapia makes sense . . . are they edible or are they in the drainage canals?

The answer to both questions is yes.

btw, where exatcly are the fish farms?

Don't have an answer for this one other than they are located all around the state.

coming south on the 86 there is some kind of a pond/retention pond inbetween the 86 and the salton sea. it looks like only half of it is fenced off . . . anyone know what is in there? is it legal to fish? is the water filled by irrigation or drainage canals?

There are many Irrigation ponds around the area. Many contain Bass and cat fish before fishing them it's best to ask permission as they are private property and fishing them is trespassing.


flatheadhunter --

i am game to go after some bass. my thinking is, with the two pole license i can use one pole for cats and the other for bass. seems to me cats and bass frequent the same waters, so what the heck.

On this I would say remember that the fish (catfish , bass or others) are never far from the cafeteria.

when i was fishing by one of the bridges near herber i saw a guy using buzz baits and pulling in some large mouth. as i am not familar with buzz baits, what else can i use to go after the bass? i was thinking using some plastics texas rigged, but would appreciate the input on what is most effective.

btw, many thanks for the warm welcome and responses.

[daystarchis]

Douglas, welcome to the BOC family. A lot of great info on here as well as great folks. Enjoy!

[woodchucker]

Doug,
The fish farms are on the northeast area of the sea,there are alot of fish farms out there.Best way is to just go exploring and following different canals.If you know where the old bait store poor richards is/was try the two streets before and after.I get most if my bait north of the state park rec area,but there are tons of canals with bait,you just have to scout them out,it wont t ake long with pieces of crawlers.Most times you can just drive along,and you will see them.

http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?T=1&S=12&Z=11&X=734&Y=4638&W=2

Here is a satalite image of the general area we would load up on bait sized tilapia.I wouldent eat the tilapia out of these waters.The coachella and east highline are clean waters.I used to always fish the alamo river,but was catch and release cause the water on the alamo and new river are pretty bad.Not saying people cant and dont eat the fish I just wouldent,from seeing the different kinds of aggriculture and farm runoffs.

[dhines]

ok, this weekend i will be making the trek down to my pad in calexico. which means . . .

1) the circle K by my house is going to get rich off beer sales

and

2) i will be hitting up the canals (AAC, west main, east highline).

i will post over the weekend and let you all know how it is going. if anyone wants to join me, just let me know.

tight lines.

[daystarchis]

Go get em brother. Look forward to reading your report.

[dhines]

how do i thank folks? i noticed some people are thanking me, but i can't find a button to return the favor.

thanks in advance.

[daystarchis]

how do i thank folks? i noticed some people are thanking me, but i can't find a button to return the favor.

thanks in advance.

It is next to the Quote button. Rep point button on top of the post.

[CatMan(Cali)]

ok, this weekend i will be making the trek down to my pad in calexico. which means . . .

1) the circle K by my house is going to get rich off beer sales

and

2) i will be hitting up the canals (AAC, west main, east highline).

i will post over the weekend and let you all know how it is going. if anyone wants to join me, just let me know.

tight lines.
Welcome to the BOC and good luck. Look forward to hearing about the trip.

Sean!

[dhines]

arrived in calexico late friday night (bad traffic in the LA area), and was stuck on baby duty on sunday . . . therefore only fished saturday evening and got skunked. one thing i find interesting is how the water speed of the canals can vary so much. on saturday i tried fishing the west main (south of cole road) and the current was slow enough that i could have used stink bait . . . but because most of the other places i have been around here have such fast current, i didn't bring any.

anyone know why the currents in all canals vary so much? is it a location thing? a product of how much is being let in by the colorado river? or something else?

i will say that i was surprised on saturday night, 4 hours fishing and not even a nibble . . . i would have thought that at least a turtle would have stolen my bait, but nada.

will try again next weekend.

[gilmafam]

arrived in calexico late friday night (bad traffic in the LA area), and was stuck on baby duty on sunday . . . therefore only fished saturday evening and got skunked. one thing i find interesting is how the water speed of the canals can vary so much. on saturday i tried fishing the west main (south of cole road) and the current was slow enough that i could have used stink bait . . . but because most of the other places i have been around here have such fast current, i didn't bring any.

anyone know why the currents in all canals vary so much? is it a location thing? a product of how much is being let in by the colorado river? or something else?

i will say that i was surprised on saturday night, 4 hours fishing and not even a nibble . . . i would have thought that at least a turtle would have stolen my bait, but nada.

will try again next weekend.

Welcome to the BOC.... I have fished the canals a time or two near Glamis area.... You are right, the water does flucuate .... but more on demand for water down the line and that is how the divert it from the all american canal....

later, bayrunner ray

[dhines]

a funeral is sending me back down there sooner than expected (wife's g-pa passed this morning), but in the spare time i will likely be hitting the canals. i know this is a rookie question but . . .

when catfishing the canals, should i plan on hitting the deep center of the canal during the daytime and the edges at night? last time i was night fishing i heard pleanty of activity on the banks but didn't consider casting in the shallows.

thanks in advance.

[tofish]

doug, every canal i fished around there was the same depth all the way across. only difference might be some dirt ripples, or if a dirt canal, under a drop.
all my big flats came at night and within 4-8 ft from shore also. i believe they are cruising shoreline looking for baitfish to feed on.
gary

[plumbertom1]

Hey Gary, are you back from Idaho?
If you are Ray and I will most likely be down that way this weekend.
At least that was the plan the last time we talked.

[dhines]

landed a 4 - 5 pound green channel cat last evening in the 'west main canal'. lately the nights have been absolutely beautiful down here.

[gilmafam]

Thanks for the post Doug... glad to see that your getting out and enjoying the night sky.... you using some live bait or something special...

Bayrunner Ray

[dhines]

Thanks for the post Doug... glad to see that your getting out and enjoying the night sky.... you using some live bait or something special...

Bayrunner Ray

truth i have been trying a little of everything (nightcrawlers, cut shrimp, cut talapia, cut makeral (sp?), lures, stink bait, chicken livers, etc). as i am new to fishing catfish in the canals, i wanted to see for myself what is hitting. the conclusion i have come to is, so long as the current is slow enough stink bait is the best way to go. i am currently using the stuff i got off cabelas (catfish charlie . . . cheese, blood and shad). when the current starts taking too much off my hook, i go to the cut bait. where i am at the cats have seem to gotten accustomed to shrimp, as that is what all the locals seem to use.

just curious to hear if anyone in the area has similar experience. additionally, anyone have advise on other types of stink bait? would love to try homemade, but i know there is a ZERO percent chance of the boss (wife) allowing me to make some.

first off i will say that i am still a rookie with the cat's (previously did most of my fishing in the tahoe area going after trout), but i was suprised to see how green the top of this cat was. the previous cats that i caught in the canals were very dark on the top, but definitely not green. btw, i will say it again . . . when i am night fishing the canals, even if i don't catch a fish it is just amazing. the locals down there don't know how lucky they are to have such wide open spaces, low fishing pressure and a bounty of beautiful fish to go after.

[dhines]

one last thing, for those of you night fishing for cats you guys should really check out the led/glow rods that cabelas has; i absolutely love them (i have two of the 8 foot models). if you do think about getting one, make sure you get the ones that are for catfishing . . . the 'walleye glow rods' are just that, glowing only. i also have 3 of the walleye glow rods (bought them for the kids), but you need to bring along a flashlight to recharge them every hour or so.

for those interested, here is a link to the berkley led/glow pole:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0031094119907a&navCount=1&podId=0031094&parentId=cat20374&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat20374&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20374&hasJS=true

[dhines]

landed another 5 cat's over the weekend (in about 4 hours of fishing). all the fish were between 2 - 7 pounds. caught them all on catfish charlie's stink bait. the currents have really slowed and it seems really condusive to using stink bait.

seeing as i think i have figured out the fishing in the local canals (west main, etc), i am thinking about moving on the east highline canal. anyone have any advice on where i should start? i have fished the east highline (once) where it breaks off from the all american . . . is that a good spot? or is there somewhere better?

many thanks in advance.

[woodchucker]

Doug,
Sounds like you are getting into the channels prettty good,right on.
The east high line should be good.All of the canals are loaded with channel cats.Only real way is to out and and soak some bait.Maybe try soaking a live bluegill on one setup and a cut bait/shrip on another,there are big flatheads there as well.Good luck.

[badams]

I used to catch a lot of channel cats in the All American canal about 15 miles out side of Brawley. When I used Catfish Charlies(and it worked great) I'd stick it on a treble hook that had a spring on its shank. You squish the ball of bait around the shank and it gets inside the spring and holds it pretty good. I had good luck when the current was flowing fast. It would instantly take the line into the reeds on the bank but thats where the fish are. I didnt even try to reel them in. I'd just feel my way down the line till

[badams]

Oops
I came to the fish and then just pick er up and un hook it. I noticed that when the frogs are raising holey hell the fish were very active

[badams]

PS
When I say that I would feel my way down the line it meant I was wearing swimming trunks and got wet. The canals were mud banks and the vegetation was just too thick to try and reel the fish in in the traditional manner